A lot of people are confident that Mike Mastroianni is the right person to lead Rock Valley College at this critical time in its history.

We’re sure that confidence will be rewarded.

Rock Valley College officials announced Tuesday that Mastroianni will succeed Jack Becherer as president.

Perhaps it will become a trend to seek local leadership whenever an organization has an opening at the top. There’s a lot of talent in the Rockford region, talent that has been groomed for leadership positions yet overlooked.

People brought in from outside the region have often exacerbated local problems, stalling or reversing any perceived progress. Local leadership doesn’t always work. Outside leadership seldom has.

We’re pleased that RVC officials didn’t overlook Mastroianni, who earned an associate degree from RVC and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rockford College (now Rockford University.)

He is well-regarded in the community. Seldom have we seen as much support for a person on the verge of getting such a prestigious position as we’ve seen for Mastroianni. He has the knowledge, temperament and drive to be a successful college president.

Mastroianni has been the interim president since January. He has private-sector experience and has served in multiple roles at the college. He literally knows the school from top to bottom, from president to student.

His experience will be tested as RVC continues to develop robust career and technical educational opportunities while maintaining a strong liberal arts program.

RVC has been making the right kinds of headlines this year, with the expansion of its aviation maintenance program and its designation as a Right Skills Now college, which will help up-and-coming manufacturing workers.

Rock Valley, which serves Winnebago County, most of Boone County and portions of Ogle, Stephenson, McHenry and DeKalb counties, offers more than 100 courses for transfer, career programs and certificates.

Those courses help prepare students for the workforce. Double-digit employment has been the norm in the region far too long, and Rock Valley programs can help reverse that trend.

However, you don’t have to be preparing for college, getting ready for a job or sharpening your work skills to enjoy programs at RVC. You can learn a new language, learn how to cook, learn ballroom dancing or learn just about anything through RVC. The college is important to the community on many levels.

Page 2 of 2 - Congratulations to Mastroianni. If he’s successful, which we think he will be, that will translate into broader success in the community.